14th May '05 - KB ride for all down SH22

[pyrocam]

I can say this,
apart from a few stupid mistakes on my part (when I got separated from any packs) I had a great tme doing the 22 on the down run. its a whole lot different from doing it on the way back.

I still stand by my point that I dont think the 22 should be done by noobs. for the reasons:
lets say you ARE following an experience 22 rider, you may attempt to do the same lines and speeds that your are not comfortable
the curves are VERY deceiving like you may have seen in my 'badcorner.avi' video


when I am with a group, I feel more confident because I have someone infront of me who wil slow down on a tricky corner or a gravel patch

and here is the thing which is the hardest to say as a noob

I know that I am a noob, but when I see someone (not nessesarily on the 22) I automatically want to keep up / race them which perhaps is my personality.

I other words. people are starting to recognise me as a member of the site and in rides, yet the rides that I partake myself on, I feel the urge to catchup/ keepup with the riders in front of me.

do other bikers remember their noob days and the urges to chase a bike thats just passed you on the motorwat? its hard for me to resisr.

[justsomeguy]

do other bikers remember their noob days and the urges to chase a bike thats just passed you on the motorwat? its hard for me to resisr.

Yup, I'm with you. And that is fine.

But if you can't control yourself. Do this: Look at the road and ride as fast as you can looking at the road. DO NOT look at the bike in front.

That way at least you will know that the sign said 45kmph and that it is a left hand downward slopping corner with 1 second forward visibility.

Instead of going, "Oh he took that corner at 100kmph. I should be ok at 80kmph."

[justsomeguy]

What the?? Death wasnt even there and gets a thanks!!.. not even.. a God Bless actually oww

nah, matey

Andy drove all the way from his home to the middle of 22 to trailer the (former) bikes(1,2,3) back to their current resting places.

And he kindly welded my foot peg fragments back together for me last week.

[2_SL0]

I know that I am a noob, but when I see someone (not nessesarily on the 22) I automatically want to keep up / race them which perhaps is my personality.

I other words. people are starting to recognise me as a member of the site and in rides, yet the rides that I partake myself on, I feel the urge to catchup/ keepup with the riders in front of me.

do other bikers remember their noob days and the urges to chase a bike thats just passed you on the motorwat? its hard for me to resisr.

Forget this idea of "Catching Up" It will only lead to one of those "Magic Moments"
I once ran very late for a ride, my wife was worried I was going to try and "Catch UP"
I told here straight, the speed at which they ride at and the speed I ride at. There is no point in "catching up"
They will eventually stop and wait. Its as simple as that. I ride at my pace, if its to slow for someone else, they can indicate and overtake me, I dont see that as a personal insult to my ability. (Though I do lack ability) Riding in a group takes some self control.
Do you want to be the last person to arrive, OR the wally that didnt get round the corner. No one will care much about the last person to arrive , the guy who didnt get round the corner however is something else.

[Mr Skid]

lets say you ARE following an experience 22 rider, you may attempt to do the same lines and speeds that your are not comfortable
the curves are VERY deceiving like you may have seen in my 'badcorner.avi' video

I think that calling it a bad corner is being disengenuous. I've watched the video about 10 times, and experience tells me from seeing that corner that it tightens.

It sure as hell makes you feel better if you can blame a mistake on the road conditions / road engineering / leading rider, but the simple fact is this: Blame won't mend broken bones.

I know that I am a noob, but when I see someone (not nessesarily on the 22) I automatically want to keep up / race them which perhaps is my personality.
do other bikers remember their noob days and the urges to chase a bike thats just passed you on the motorwat? its hard for me to resisr.

I don't know what your doing trying to chase another bike on the motorway. There is far too much enforcement occuring on the motorway to speed safely. Also, I assume you are still on your learners? If so, get pinged for 121km/h and your 51 km/h over your limit. Kiss that licence goodbye!

I know what you mean about wanting to keep up. I've felt the same need, and paid a not insubstantial price.

If you think your personality is getting you in trouble on a bike, then I think you need to contemplate whether you are suitable to ride bikes, and if so what sort of bike and in what circumstances.

Riding sports bikes isn't your only option.

[bugjuice]

Hmmm I have a problem with that huge exaggeration! Didn't you read what SD said?? -

point taken. Was a real bad use of terms. I didn't mean that SD was riding like a mentalist.

[Zapf]

Sorry matey...... yup it was you.

Yeah, too much braking while the bike was (relatively for me) leant over and it got pretty unstable. Managed to correct it quickly and safely but there was a good second or two of "oh feck" sentiments there. Especially with a faster rider sitting behind me waiting to pass.

sounds like you might be wanting a CB400 now its a very stable little bike.... I just rode a few k's standing up the on the pegs.... and its damm stable yet very flickable...

[Sheep Dags]

point taken. Was a real bad use of terms. I didn't mean that SD was riding like a mentalist.

I didn't take it like that anywayz
I must admit, I've done what these other guys say, within the first 6 months of owning a bike i ran a corner REAL wide. I stopped and thought very seriously about it and i never wanted to do that again, so have 'pretty much' always ridden within my limits since then.
The thing is with yesterday, was that yes we were riding at a pace, but if we wanted to be silly, we could have tried to keep up with 2 smoker and motoracer, but that's just fuckin stupid!


Fuck I'll tell you what, I didn't get too much sleep last night! i couldn't find the right position cause whatever position i slept in, something hurt! ...and this morning! oh man i'm sore! gonna go get myself checked out just in case.

be cool homies :-p

[justsomeguy]

sounds like you might be wanting a CB400 now its a very stable little bike.... I just rode a few k's standing up the on the pegs.... and its damm stable yet very flickable...

No I like my crappy handling ZZR. If I can learn to ride that gutless wonder fast - I can ride anything fast.

I've riden Erik's bike which is similar in seating position and handling to your bike. It is too easy to ride, wont really improve someone like me.

Then in March 06 I will be buying the mintestest ZXR400 I can find.

[justsomeguy]

I didn't take it like that anywayz
I must admit, I've done what these other guys say, within the first 6 months of owning a bike i ran a corner REAL wide. I stopped and thought very seriously about it and i never wanted to do that again, so have 'pretty much' always ridden within my limits since then.
The thing is with yesterday, was that yes we were riding at a pace, but if we wanted to be silly, we could have tried to keep up with 2 smoker and motoracer, but that's just fuckin stupid!


Fuck I'll tell you what, I didn't get too much sleep last night! i couldn't find the right position cause whatever position i slept in, something hurt! ...and this morning! oh man i'm sore! gonna go get myself checked out just in case.

be cool homies :-p

There was you Swanny and who's the other guy??

Keep us updated SD. And get some R&R. Thank God you can sleep in whole of Sunday before work - whatever. Another plus point of Saturday rides.

[pyrocam]

I think that calling it a bad corner is being disengenuous. I've watched the video about 10 times, and experience tells me from seeing that corner that it tightens.

It sure as hell makes you feel better if you can blame a mistake on the road conditions / road engineering / leading rider, but the simple fact is this: Blame won't mend broken bones.



I don't know what your doing trying to chase another bike on the motorway. There is far too much enforcement occuring on the motorway to speed safely. Also, I assume you are still on your learners? If so, get pinged for 121km/h and your 51 km/h over your limit. Kiss that licence goodbye!

I know what you mean about wanting to keep up. I've felt the same need, and paid a not insubstantial price.

If you think your personality is getting you in trouble on a bike, then I think you need to contemplate whether you are suitable to ride bikes, and if so what sort of bike and in what circumstances.

Riding sports bikes isn't your only option.

the choice of badcorner.avi was meant to apply I did the corner badly not that it was a 'naughty corner'

I mentioned it was hard to resist trying to keep up with the lane splitting people on the MW but on the way to the AB I did manage to just think to myself, "Im very early, Im not in a hurry, he is proberly not going there anyway" and stay in my lane

What I mean is. its hard, not impossible.

Thanks for your thoughts thou

[Madmax]

mabey we should take the new guys out to kawakawa bay
see who is up to going through the tight bits ahead of time and do the loop.
just a thought

[Krayy]

Hey guys,

FWIW I thought the nobs did quite well. I decided to hang back and ride with them, as there was no-one else looking to do it and I was still running in the Sport Demons (taint no "Chicken Strips" on those feckers now), so I was quite happy to amble along at 80-90 and keep an eye on them. All in all, I'd say they did alright.

DanB is doing okay, just needs to get a little more confidence in the corners, but his one fault that I did pick up on (as did everyone else) is that he had a slight lack of "surface awareness". Braking in loose gravel isn't the best mate (piccie to follow in the Pics thread of the aftermath). And whats with Waikato councils stupid "hide the roadworks" game? Some of those weren't signposted at all and some were posted about 5 metres from the loose crap.

Ricksta, Ricksta, Ricksta. Oh dear, where do we begin. The off after the stop where DanB came a cropper was pretty much the same as what happened last week. Lean boy!! Otherwise, you're doing okay, just seriously consider getting the safety gear that I mentioned ASAP. As a refresher it was:

- High Boots: sneakers are not good to ride in. Soles can get ripped off, ankles have no support and can break, shins not protected etc

- Armoured pants: make sure you get ones with hip pads, knee armour, reinforced arse etc

- Pack rack: this one I think should be a must for anyone who carries a lot of gear. If you have stuff in a backpack and it moves when you're in a corner, the centre of gravity shifts and can low side you quite happily. Get your hevy bits (cameras, clothing, etc) on a rack and strap it down tight to stop it moving.

Last but not least (and this goes to al noobs), GET ON A HANDLING COURSE ASAP. The Bronz (www.bronz.org.nz) Ride Right, Ride Safe course kicks arse and is cheap to boot. Some of the commercial courses are very good (John wotsizname) but some are average to say the least (Passrite anyone?).

[chickenfunkstar]

This was the 2nd time i've ridden SH22, its certainly an interesting road.
I had a really good day up untill the drama about half way up SH22 on the way back.
Thanks MR for organising the day.
FWIW I don't reckon that any of the incidents were in any way fault.

Paul (CBR250RR) and I got back to Auckland fine.
I saw him yesterday, he's OK, just a bit of a sore sholder.

[Captain]

[QUOTE=Motoracer]So, how about it folks?

It'll be a Kiwibiker ride like the old times down SH22 to the BP in Narawahia and we can decide how long we want to make it depending on the conditions etc after lunch.

Hi all, this is my first posting here so if I screw it up, be nice. Wan't to give many thanks to those who orginised the ride on the 14th. My mate and I saw bikes heading south and hooked up with you lot at the BP. Excellant ride and well organised. From a new arrival to the scene perspective it was awsome to see such a selection of riders and machines. I havn't been on two wheels long so it was also nice to see that when someone managed to make a mistake and ditch their machine that lots run to give assistance.

All good and will be doing it again. Hope to see you arround.